Daytona sets cold record

Tuesday, the temperature in Daytona Beach rose to 61 degrees, breaking the previous record for the lowest high temperature on March 26 of 62 set in 1969.

KATIE KUSTURASTAFF WRITER

Daytona Beach broke one weather record this week and might snag another. Shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday, the temperature in Daytona Beach rose to 61 degrees, National Weather Service meteorologist Bob Wimmer said. That broke the previous record for the lowest high temperature on March 26 of 62 set in 1969. "Strong northwest winds are pulling cooler, drier winds into Central Florida," Wimmer said. The city also had a chance to break a record low overnight. He said the average high for late March is 76 degrees and the average low is 56. Wimmer said temperatures were forecast to dip to 38 degrees Wednesday morning. The record low for March 27 was set in 2006 at 39 degrees. Wind gusts up to 20 mph and wind chill values as low as 35 are expected Wednesday, but winds will calm down to about 5 mph by the evening, according to the Weather Service. The Weather Service has also predicted chilly overnight temperatures for West Volusia and Flagler County. Wind gusts up to 20 mph and a low of 37 are expected early Wednesday in the DeLand area. Wind chill values in the area are predicted to reach a low of 33. In the Palm Coast area, the Weather Service forecast an early Wednesday low of 36 degrees with wind chill values of 28.